Saturday 19 March 2011

Old Movie Madness: Bachelor Mother (1939)



OK - I have decided - 1938-1941 are the ultimate years for fashion in my eyes, and this film, made in 1939, may be the ultimate film for fashion too. 

Bachelor Mother stars an incredibly lovely Ginger Rogers as Polly Parrish, a salesgirl in the toy department of John B Merlin & Son, a large department store in New York City.  It is the end of the Christmas season and she finds that she is about to lose her job, so she pops out during her lunch break to sign up at an employment agency.  On her way back to the office she spots a woman leaving a baby on the doorstep of the foundling hospital.  Concerned for the child she approaches it and when the door of the hospital is opened the staff assume she is the mother, refusing to believe her when she says she is not.

The hospital follow up with her employer, speaking to the young David Merlin (David Niven looking delicious), and saddened by the tale of a young mother unable to support her child he gives her back her job and a raise.  Despite her continued protestation no one believes that she is not the mother and so when the baby is returned to her she decides to bring up the child.

David spends an increasing amount of time with Polly and the baby and once New Year's Eve comes around he invites her out for the evening, they have a wonderful time and a rather passionate kiss but David is still reluctant to take on a ready made family.

Eventually David's father J.B Merlin himself (played by the ever wonderful Charles Coburn) finds out about the child and assumes his son is the father.  J.B is thrilled, as he has long been waiting for his playboy son to settle down.  David realises he really does love Polly and the baby and asks her to marry him, letting everyone believe that the child is his son.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, Ginger, as usual, was a joy throughout and the building romance between herself and David Niven felt very believable.  This is a light comedy movie about a very serious subject and, interestingly for the time, little mention is made of the shame of single motherhood. There are some very funny set pieces including Polly pretending to be Swedish which did make me giggle.

It also looks beautiful, I want all of Polly's wardrobe, not surprisingly as the costumes were by Irene.  Here hair was also set in the most perfect pageboy...sigh.  Here are some of the best pictures I could find.

I strongly advise watching the film though, to see the costumes to full effect.

 
I love the cross detail here


 and I can always go for a little asymmetry



 A lovely jabot



 This dress is incredible, the waistband detail and the tiny buttons - swoon.


Here is the original movie trailer.  I would have added in a visually excellent fan trailer I found on YouTube but it shows all the best bits of the film and has annoying music so I resisted.  Go watch this movie, please.

10 comments:

  1. I'm surely gonna follow your advice and watch this movie; Ginger Rogers looks adorable on the pictures you chose!

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  2. Love that dress with the waist detail.

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  3. Lisa, I couldn't agree more that the years 1938 to 1941 were the greatest years for fashion. Some of my all time favorite movies were produced during that span as well. Have a delightful weekend!

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  4. Ginger Rodgers looks lovely in this film and I agree they were the ultimate years for fashion.

    For The Vintage Fashionista

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  5. I agree the fashions were best in those years and also the hair.Thats a great movie.Ginger was so beautiful.I always enjoy her films.

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  6. This is my favorite movie -- and my husband got it for me for Christmas!! You have such good taste,Lisa! Ginger Rogers was the best.

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  7. Lisa, would you know where I can find the screenplay by any chance?
    With many thanks.
    Helene

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  8. Hi Lisa,
    Would you know where I can find the screenplay?
    With many thanks.
    Helene

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  9. Wow! I'm always on the lookout for old movies and it was not in my list, so you gave me a new occupation for the next weekend, thanks for sharing!

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